Amphibian vehicle



1.1m. 7, 1947 a. A. swENNEs AMHIBIAN VEHICLE Filed Jan. 12, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 B. A. swx-:NNES

AIIPHIBIAN VEHICLE med aan. 12, 1944 Jan. 7, 1947.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \mN.. lll Llll l I I l l I |.I.L

Patented Jan. 7, 1947 ri OFFICE AMPmBIAN vaincra Benjamin Swennes,Rockford, lll., assigner `to Borg-Warner'Corporation, Chicago, Ill., acorpnmian of Iliinois I Applicaties january 12, 1944, serial No.517,940..

(ci. 11s-1) isolana.

and more' particularly to auch vehicles havins movable tracks on theirl.exteriors 'which are adapted to propel the vehicles either over landor through the water. 2

Amphibian vehicles having tracks Aon their ex teriors adapted forpropelling the vehicles over My 1invention relates-` ten amphibianyvehicles.

s direction. over land and to mount on and pass over obstaclesofsubstantial height. It' is thus an l, object to provide, adjacent theendof the vehicle land a1-'through the water have heretofore been used.The traction between thev tracks and the waterV ,was provided by lugsfixed to the tracks.

The ends of these vehicles were preferably plane surfaces which slantedupwardly and endwardly of the vehicles sok that theoretically thesevehicles would tend to move over the surface of the water fwith aminimum of drag. It has been found with such a vehicle. however, thatits slanted ends were not really streamlinedwith respect to the Awaterand that the vehicleI tended to push the water ahead of it, and therewas a substantial drag on the vehicle due to this action. The vehiclefunctioned in this manner instead of skimming'over thekwater due toitsgreat weight and. slow speed.

It is one of the kobjects of my invention to f provide an improvedtracked amphibiany vehicle which has a streamlined end and moreparticuopposite its streamlined end, portions of tracks on oppositesidesvof the vehicle which extend upwardly and 'endwardly of the vehicletoeiect.

passage ci' the vehicle over obstacles.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a powertransmission system in such a tracked amphibian vvehiclewhichflfunctions to selectively give one speed. ratio for driving the v.tracks in one direction for propelling the vehicle through the waterwith its streamlined end fore.-

most and -to give a-plurality of speed ratios for driving the tracks andfor propelling the vehicle overland in the opposite directions.

'.tions, arrangements and devices .to be hereinlarly a tapered end for'lreducing the effect of the vehicle in pushing the water ahead of it andwhich would allow the vehicle to' cut the water,

whereby the drag on the vehicle is decreased and its speed isincreased.' l f v The amphibian vehicles heretofore used have lbeenprovided with propelling tracks extending substantially the wholelength-.of the vehicle. The tracks were thus of considerable length andweight, and due to their inertia. considerable power was required 'tostartand stop the tracks. It is a further object of my invention toprovide an improved amphibian vehicle'utilizing tracks which extend foronly a portion of the length of` the vehicle and .which thus are' ofless lengthl and weight and require considerably less power t0 startendstop. It is also an object to position these tracks of shorter lengthadjacent the end of the vehicle opposite a tapered end thereof, wherebythe tracks do not interfere with the cut. ting throughlthe water by thevehicle, and it is a further objectto provide an auxiliary lwheeledsupporting unit adjacent the streamlined end of i the vehicle vforsupporting this end of the vehicle when the vehicle is on land.

It is another object of my invention to provide such an amphibianvehicle having a streamlined end to cut through the water which is soconstructd as to facilely travel inthe opposite f The invention consistsofthe novel construcafter described and claimedy for carrying out theabove stated objects and such otherobiects as will appear from thefollowing -descriptionvof la certain preferred embodiment illustrated invthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an amphibian vehicle embodying theprinciples of the invention;

. Fig. 3 is van end lelevationi'il view of the amphibian vehicle; and

Fis. 4 is a diagrammatic view -of the driving mechanism for the tracksof the amphibian vehicle. l s

Like characters of reference designate like parts jin the several views.

Referring now to thedrawings, the illustrated amphibian vehiclecomprises a vehicle body 1 which issubstantia'lly water-tight. Thebody 1is provided with a cargo space 8 therein, and

' a gate 9 is hingedly mounted on an end Iilof the body for providingaccess to the cargo space. The gate 0 may be raised or lowered by anysuitable means. and the ygategwhen lowered is adapted to be used as aramp formovingr cargo into the cargo space. v l An articulated A trackil is disposed on each side of the vehicle body 1. Each of the tracks liis heldin looped configuration and is movably disposed with respect tothe body 1 by means sofof a sprocket wheel l2, an idler wheelfl andbogie wheels I4, l5, i6, l1 and I8. The sprocket wheel l2 is iournaledin the vehicle body 1 and is driven by mechanism hereinafter to Vbedescribed, and the idler wheel is yieldingly supported with respect tothe body v1 by any suitable means (not shown).

Fig. 2'is a plan viewof the amphibian vehicle; b

The bugie wheels u to is n foremost.

traction between the ground and the tracks,

when the vehicle is on land, as is apparent.

An auxiliary wheeled, body supporting unit 23 is provided for supportingthe end l of the body the vehicle with its end 22 foremost. Thedifferential transmission 39 may be of any suitable 1. This unitcomprises idler wheels 24 and 25 rotatably mounted with respect to amember 264 the unit 23 is partially disposed in a `cavity 3l' providedin the bottom of the body 1 adjacent the body end I 0, and the unit 23functions to support this end of the vehicle with the track 33 being incontact with theground whenthe vehic'e is on land.

The body 1 on its bottom adjacent the end Ill of the body is providedwith surfaces 35 which slant upwardly toward this end of the body andalso sidewardly from the longitudinal center of the body. The body 1 isthus streamlined and tapered on this e'nd so that the body cuts thewater as it passes therethrough with this end A pointed `keel 36 isprovided on this end ofthe-body in its longitudinal center'4 andendwardly of the auxiliary supporting unit 23. 'I'his keel functions tostreamline the body 1 about the supporting unit 23 and minimize the dragof water on the unit 23. It will be observed that each of the tracks I Ihas a portion or stretch between the bog'ie wheel I1 and the sprocketwheel I2 which extends upwardly and endwardly of the vehicle. When thetracks II -are driven so as to propel the vehicle with its end 22foremost, these stretches of track tend to run onto any obstacle thevehicle may encounter, and the vehicle thereby mounts on and movesacross the obstacle.

The driving mechanism for the tracks II includes a motor 31 (see Fig. 4)having in tandem therewith a transmission 38 which in turn is con- 39 bymeans of shafting 40. The transmis-sion 39 is connected to drive thesprockets I2 forthe tracks on opposite sides of the vehicle by means ofsuitable shafting Il. The motor 31 may be of any suitable type and ispreferably an internal combustion engine. The transmission 38 may becontrolled by any suitable means (not shown) and preferably provides onespeed ratio in one construction so' that either one of the sprockets` I2may be decreased in speed with respect to the other sprocket at the willof the operator, in order that the vehicle may be turned in onedirection or the other. The track driving mechani-sm may be suitablydisposed in the body 1 adjacent the end 22 of the vehicle with the motor31 being in the motor box 42 which is shown in Fig, 2.

The vehicle illustrated is particularly suited to be operated in onedirection in water and in the other direction yon land, although it willbe apparent that, if desired, the vehicle may be operated in bothdirections either on land or in water. When the vehicle is in water, thetransmission 38 is preferably shifted to drive thevtracks II so as topropel the vehicle with its tapered end III foremost. With thevehiclemoving through the water in this direction, the tapered end I0comprising the slanting surfaces 35 functions to cut the water and makefacile the movement of the body in this direction through the water. Thekeel 36 functions to reduceA the drag of the auxiliary supporting unit23, as is apparent.` Any of the speed ratios of the transmission 38 fordriving the tracks Il in the opposite direction may be utilized forreversing the vehicle in the water, as is apparent. When the vehicle isoperated on land, it is preferably run in the opposite direction withits end 22 foremost, and the one of the plurality of speed ratios oftransmission 38 A at which the best operation is obtained for theparticular kind of terrain being traversed may be used. With vthevehicle moving in this direction over land, the upwardly extendingstretches of tracks between the bogie wheels I1 and the sprockets I2function such `that the vehicle may mount and pass over obstacles.' Thesingle speed ratiov of the transmission 38 in the opposite ydirectionmay be utilized for reversing the vehicle on land, as is apparent. Whenthe vehicle is being driven from land to water, the end I0 of thevehicle is preferably driven into the water rst so that the tracks IIcontact ground as long as possible. When the vehicle is being beached,the end 22 of the vehicle is preferably driven foremost onto the beachso that the tracks I l contact ground as soon as possible.

I wish it tobe understood that my invention e is not to be limited tothe specific constructions -nected with a controlled differentialtransmission that changes maybe made without departing direction and aplurality of speed ratios in the opposite direction. The arrangement ofthe various parts of the driving mechanism is such that the tracks IIare driven in the single speed ratio from the principles of theinvention.

I claim:

1. An amphibian vehicle' comprising in combination, a substantiallywater-tight body, a pair of tracks movably disposed von. opposite sidesof saidv body and adapted to propel the vehicle either over land orthrough the water, said tracks extending for only a portion oi thelength of the body and being disposed adjacent an end of the body, andan auxiliary body supporting means relatively movable with respect tothe body and disposed adjacent its opposite end and functionalriaezso-Aing1with fthetracks to supportthebody when I the vehicle ispropeiled'overland. i v2.-.An amphibian vehiclevcomprising'incombination, a substantially water-tight i,vehicle body, said body ononey end thereof being streamlined .for facilitatingv passage ofthefvehicle :through `they water withthis. end foremost, a

pairfof tracks movablydsposed on. opposite sides xof said body andadapted. to propel the vehicle either over land or through the water,saidV tracks extending for only a portion of the length ofthe body andbeing disposed adjacent the opposite lend ofthe body, vand auxiliarywheeled supporttracks each being movably disposed with respect to thebody and held in looped configuration by means of a pair oftrack-supporting wheels and a plurality of body supporting bogie wheelsrunning on the track and the'tracksbeing adapted when driven topropelftheV` vehicle either over land or through the water, said tracksextend-r ing for onlya portion ofthe length of thebody and beingdisposed adjacent the opposite endof the body,and auxiliary wheeledsupporting means for said body adjacent its streamlined end functioningwithy said tracks to support the body when the vehicle ispropelled overlland.

4. An amphibian vehicle comprising in combination, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body,

. said body on one end thereof being streamlined a forfacilitatingpassage of the vehicle through the,

water with this end foremost, a pair of tracks ymovably disposed onopposite sides of said body and adaptedV -to propel'the vehicle 'eithervover land Vor through the water, said tracks extending for only aportion of the lengthfof lthe body and "being disposed'adjacent the cnpositeendv of the body, and an auxiliary body supporting unit advjacentthe streamlined end of the body and functioning with the tracks tosupport the' body when the vehicle is propelled over land, saidvauxiliaryunit comprising va track movableon a plurality of idler wheelsand being disposed in the longitudinal center of the vehicle andpartially in a cavity in the bottom of the vehicleprovided therefor.'

. An lamphibian vehicle comprising in coni-y vbination, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body, said bodybeing tapered on one end thereofwhereby to cut'the water and facilitate passage ofthe vehicle Athroughthe water with that end foremost, a pair of tracks movably disposed onopposite sides of said body and adapted to propel the vehicle eitherover land or'thro'ugh the water,

each of said tracks having a portion adjacent the opposite end of saidbody extending upwardly andendwardly of the body whereby the vehicle maymount and 'pass over raised obstacles when propelled with said-oppositeend foremost,and

a motor in said"body adapted for driving said tracks either in adirection for 'propellingl the vehicle through the water with itstapered end foremost or in the opposite direction to propel the vehicleover land with its other end foremost.

6. An amphibian vehicle comprising in combination, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body,

said body,l adjacent gone end thereofwon ,its bottom slantingV .upwardly,toward said vend andtoward its sides so that this end of the body isftapered for facilitating-*passage of the vehicle i throughthewater withthis end foremost, a pair of tracks movablyfdisposed on opposite sidesof said body and adaptedto propel the Vehicle either over land orthrough the wateneach ofl said tracks having a portion adjacenttheopposite end ,of saidbody extending upwardly and endwardly `of thebody wherebythe vehicle may mount and pass over raised obstacles whenpropelled with said opposite end foremost, and a motor in said bodyadapted fordriving said tracks. either in a direction to propel thevehicle throughthevwater with itstaperedend foremost or inthe oppositedirection to propel the vehicle over land with its -other end foremost.`v

7.- An amphibian vehicle comprising in combination, a substantiallywatertight vehicle body, said body on one end thereof being streamlined-Afor facilitatingv paSSagevof the vehicle through the waterwlth thisend foremost, a pair of tracks movably disposed on opposite sides-` ofsaid body and adapted to propel the vehicle either over land lor throughthe water', said tracks extendingfor only a portion of the length of thebody and being disposed adjacentk the oppositefend of :the body, `anauxiliary wheeled supportingy means for vsaid body adjacent its4streamlinedfend functioning with said tracks to support the bodywhenthe vehicle vis propelled over` land, eachof said tracks v havingafportion on said opposite end ofthe body extending upwardly andendwardly of thebody whereby the vehiclemay mount andpass over raisedobstacles when propelled with said opposite end foremost, and a motor insaid body adapted for driving the tracksleither ina direction. to propelthe vehicle throughthe water with its vrection to rpropel the-vehicleover land Withits other end foremost. i.

" `8.` An amphibian vehicle'comprising incombination, asubstantiallywater-tight vehicle body, said body on one end thereof being streamlinedi forfacilltating passageof the vehicle throughzthe water with this endforemost, a pairof tracks on "opposite sides ofsaid body, said trackseach being lmovably disposed'l with respect to the body and '50 heldinlooped configuration by meansof a pair of ytrack-supporting wheels anda plurality of body supporting' bogiey wheelsl running;y on the trackand the tracks being adapted when driven to propel .the vehicley eitherover land or through the water, said tracks extendingfor only a portionof the length of the'body andbeing disposed adjacent the opposite endofthe body, each Iof said 'tracks having aportion on said opposite endof the body extending upwardly and endwardly of the body wherebythevehicle may r'nountr and pass over raised obstacles when propelledwith said opposite end foremost, auxiliary wheeled supporting means forsaid body adjacent its streamlined end` functioning with said tracks tosupport the body when .the vehicle is propelled over land, and a motorinsaid body adapted for driving said tracks either in a direction topropel the vehicle through' the water with its streamlined end foremostor in the opposite direction to propel the vehicle over land with itsotherr end foremost.

.9.'An amphibian vehicle comprising in combination, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body, said body adiacent one end thereof on itsbottom slanting upwardly toward said end and toward its :sides so thatthis end of the body is tapered for-facilitating passage of the vehiclethrough beingmovably-disposed with respect to the body and held inloogdconfiguration by means of a pair of track-supporting wheels and aplurality of body-'supporting bogie wheels running on the track and thetracks being adapted-when driven to lpropel the vehicle either over landor through thewater, said tracks extending for only a portion of thelength of the body and being disposed adjacent the opposite end ofthebody, an auxiliary body supporting unit comprising a track movable ona plurality of idler wheels, said unit being disposed adjacent saidtapered body end on the longitudinal center of the body and partially ina cavity provided in the; bottom of the body, each of said tracks havinga portion adjacent'said opposite end of the body extending upwardly andendwardly of the body whereby the vehicle may mount -and pass overraised obstacles when propelled with said opposite end foremost,

and a motor in said body adapted for driving i said tracks either in adirection for propelling the vehicle through the water with said taperedend foremost. or inthe opposite direction for pro- 'pelling the vehicleover land with saidopposite body end foremost.

1 10. An amphibian vehicle comprising in combinaton, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body,

. the vehicle either over land or throughthe Water, 'a motor in saidbody. and means operatively connecting said motor and said tracksy fordriving the tracks and including 'a transmission, said e transmissionproviding one speed ratio for driving the tracks in a direction topropelthe vehicle through the water with its tapered body end foremostand providing a plurality of speed ratios fo; driving the tracks in theopposite direction fo i propelling the vehicle over land with its op'posite body end foremost.

11. An amphibian vehicle comprising'in com bination, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body, said body being tapered on one end whereby to`cut the water and facilitate passage of the vehicle through the waterwith this end foremost, s. pair of tracks movably disposed on oppositesides of :said body and adapted to propel the vehicle either over landor'through the water, each of said tracks having s. portion adjacent'the opposite end of said body extending upwardly and end- .wardly ofthe body whereby the vehicle may said body.v being tapered on;one .endwhereby to cut the water and facilitate passage of the vehicle throughthe water with that end foremost, a pair of tracks movably disposedonopposite sides of said body and extending for only a portion of thelength of: the `body and disposed adjacent the opposite vend of thebody, said tracks being adapted topropel the vehicle eitherover land orthrough the water and-each track having a portion on'said opposite endofthe body ex tending upwardly and endwardly of the body' whereby thevehicle maymount andpass over raised obstacles when the vehicleis-movingwith said opposite end foremost,` auxiliary wheeled supporting means forsaid body adjacent its tapered end functioning withv said tracks tosupport the body when the .vehicle is propelled over land. a motor insaid body, and means operatively connecting said motor and said tracksfor driving said tracks and yincluding a transmission, said transmissionproviding one ratio for driving the tracks in a directionto propelthevehicle through the water with its tapered endforemost and providing aplurality of ratios-fordriving the tracks `in the opposite direction forpropellingv the vehicle over land with its said opposite end foremost.

bination, a 'substantially water-tight vehicle body having one endshaped ,to facilitate passage mount and pass over raised obstacles whenproi pelled with said opposite end foremost, a motor in said body, "andmeans operatively connecting said motor and said tracks for driving thetracks Vand including a transmission, said transmission providing onespeed ratio for driving the tracks vin a direction for propelling thevehicle through the water with its tapered end foremost and prothroughthe water when `driven with that end f foremost, driving mean'sincluding a pair of tracks disposed ;on cpposite sides of vsaid vehicleadjacent the end opposite said shaped end and adapted normally yandselectively to propel the vehicle through the waterwith-said shaped endforemost and over land with 4its other end foremost, and

.having yoneV end shaped Ato facilitate passage through the water whendriven with that end foremost, kmeans defining a cargo space within saidbody, a gate positioned above said shaped end and adjacent said cargospace, and driving means including a pairyof tracks disposed Aon0pposite sides of said body adjacent the end opposite said shaped endand adapted normally and selec'- tively` to propel `the lvehicle throughthe water with said shaped end foremost and over land with its other endforemost. x p

' 15.' An amphibian vehicle comprising..in combination, a substantiallywater-tight vehicle body 'having o ne end tapered to' facilitate passagethrough the water ."when driven with that end foremost, meansdefining acargo space within said body, driving. means-includingy a pair of tracksdisposed on opposite sides of. said body adjacent the end opposite saidshaped end and adapted normallyand selectively to propel the vehiclethrough the water with said shaped end v foremost and overland with its`other end foremost, and a gate adjacent said cargo space and forminginits closed position ,a wall portion of said vehicle body, said gatebeing located'above said tapered end and beinghinged at its own loweredge whereby it is adapted when lowered from its closed position toserve asa ramp leading to or from said cargo space.

BENJAinNM. swnNNns.

